A Divine Work Of Art

By Joni and Friends|Published On: November 29, 2019|Categories: 4-Minute Radio Program|

A sketch of a muscular horse running with it's mane flowing in the wind.

Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada and I have a little art lesson to give you today.

It’s a fact that if the artist is really enthralled with a painting that he’s working on – if he is inspired by the possibilities, if it’s captured his imagination – that artist just won’t let up until the painting is perfected. I have experienced that with more than a few of my paintings and drawings. I remember getting an original concept for rendering a horse; it was inspiring, and so, there I was, in the middle of the night deciding which materials, what colors. Should it be a painting or a line sketch? I could not wait to get my art easel the next day. I drew the composition, just as I imagined it, and I kept sketching and erasing until it was just right. And today, honestly, that museum quality sketch is hanging in my living room. And many limited-edition prints have been made of it.

In the same way, God is enthralled with us, His divine works of art. We have captured His imagination, and God is not going to let up until we are perfected. We are something that God is making and, therefore, He just will not be satisfied until we, His work of art, have a certain character. C.S. Lewis calls this the “intolerable compliment.” The artist may not take much trouble with an incidental sketch, but if it is something that he loves, the artist will take endless trouble rubbing, scraping, re-commencing the drawing for the tenth time. That sketch, like us, might wish you were only a thumb-nail drawing that took less than a minute to complete. But C.S. Lewis says, “In the same way, it is natural for us to wish that God had designed us for a less glorious and less arduous destiny; but then, [if we do that], we are wishing not for more love but for less.” Wow, what a great quote, and believe me, I do not want God to love me less. Ephesians says that we are God’s workmanship; we’ve captured His imagination, His heart. He is up at night, as it were, thinking of you and taking endless trouble to create a certain character in you that He loves and delights in. Yes, the hardship, the rubbing and erasing is tiring, but please do not wish for God, the artist, to love you less. Welcome that trial. Rejoice in that suffering. Boast in the affliction, for then you know that you are a masterpiece of His mercy. And once you’re convinced of that, you would not have it any other way.

Hey, I’d love for you to take a look at my artwork; in fact, I have some fresh new Christmas card designs I’d like you to see. Just go to joniradio.org where I have put a link to Joni’s Art. In fact, that horse drawing I told you about? That link will take you there, too. And it’ll take you to my Christmas cards, as well. Oh, and I have an idea: if you know someone who is lonely, put them on your Christmas card list this season. Because there are people out there who are wanting less of God’s love, but you can convince them that more of God’s love – not less, but more – is always better, always hopeful, and always more joyful.

Oh, and one more thing. If you are that lonely person – perhaps you are single and struggling with God’s design in your life, then ask for our little tract “Singled Out by God for Good,” written by my good friend Paige Benton Brown – a woman who in her singleness, yielded to God’s constant working in her life. It’s a great message, so pick it up today at joniradio.org and join me today in thanking the Divine Artist in your life for loving you more, and not less, through every hardship. See you later at joniradio.org.